Improvement in horseshoes



G. P. SHEFFIELD.

HORSESHOE.

No.188,967. Patented March 27,1877.

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Jag/72% N FETER8, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. SHEFFIELD, OF ONTARIO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,967, dated March 27, 1&77 application filed March 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. SHEFFIELD, of Ontario, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have made certain Improvements in Horseshoes, of which the following is a specification:

, This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of horseshoes constructed in sections united together in such manner as to allow the shoe to expand or spread with the growing hoof, the object being to so construct the joint that while the end sections can spread freely in alateral direction they will be held firmly together in a longitudinal direction; and it consists in a shoe, the adjoining ends of the sections of which are constructed with semi-cylindrical pintles which fit and work in similarly-shaped recesses, in combination with a series of curved lugs and similarlyshaped recesses, the lugs working in said recesses in such manner that the sections will, when interlocked, be free to move outward laterally, in order that the shoe may adapt itself automatically to changes in the hoof consequent upon the growth of the same.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a view of the shoe, showing the sections detached; Fig. 2, a view showing the opposite sides of the shoe at the joints, with the sections interlocked; Fig. 3, a view of one of the joints, showing the parts interlocked and partly expanded.

The letter A represents the central or front section which forms the toe of the shoe, and B the end sections which form the heel of the same. On the lower side of each end of the central section is formed a semi-cylindrical recess, 0., extending about half-way through the body of the shoe, the bottom of said recess being formed by a semi-cylindrical pintle, b, formed on the opposite side of the section. The sections B B are also formed with similar semi-cylindrical pintles and recesses 11 e, the pintle of each end section being adapted to fit and work in the recess at the adjoining end of the central section, and vice versa. On the inside of the central section A at each end is formed an offset, g, in which is formed immediately adjacent to the pintle on the upper side of the section a segmental recess, 10., equal in depth to the width of the pintle, and

adjoining said recess on the same side a seg mental lug, i, the offset terminating in a lug, It. On the lower side of said section is formed a segmental lug, Z, between the semi-cylindrical recess and the lug k at the end of the offset.

0n the interlocking ends of each section B B, on the upper side of the same, and immediately below the semi-cylindrical recesses in the same is formed a segmental lug, m, and below this a segmental recess, n, which interlock respectively with the segmental recesses and lugs h and i at the ends of the central section when the sections are secured together. Each section B B is also provided with a recess, p, on its inner end, in which the lug k on the offset 9 fits, and with a broad segmental recess, 1', on its lower side, in which the broad lug l of the offset It sets when the parts are secured together.

The sections B B are secured to the central section by placing the pintles of each in their respective recesses, the said sections B being in a fully-expanded position. Then, upon contracting the said section B, the segmental lugs and recess :s on the respective adjoining sections interlock, securing the parts together against longitudinal strains, but allowing the end sections to freely work in a lateral direction.

As thus constructed, it will be perceived that the sections are formed and united without the use of rivets or other detachable fastening devices.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the sections of an expandin g horseshoe the semi-cylindrical pintles and corresponding recesses in which they fit, and the segmental lugs and recesses adapted to interlock with each other, the whole constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. SHEFFIELD.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, T. H. PARSONS- 

